FoolKiller
In America you can travel to tropical beaches or go to the frigid arctic. Whatever your taste you can find it in America. Tell me what you like and I can guarantee that somewhere in these states you can find it.
I wouldn't trade America for anywhere else in the world.
That too.
You have unimaginable freedoms, no matter which wicked witch of the west is in power, as Duke might say. It's not perfect, but it works.
Is it true that people drive (as opposed to walk) absolutely everywhere, including journeys as short as, say, 100 yards down the street?
If you live in a downtown area of a large city or a very small town, you's rather walk, since parking is limited and/or expensive. You'd use publiic transporation if you live in New York, just about no matter what your social status is.
But for medium-size towns and master-planned communities in suburaban areas, the businesses are usually placed away from the residential areas. There isn't necessarily public transporation, since the city centers don't really exist, the public is usually middle to upper-lcass and can afford to take their cars where they need to. Only those who enjoy the weather and are looking for excercise will bike or walk/run in most cases, since the view's not very scenic, and we love our cheap gas and cars.
Do people really sue each other on a daily basis, for the most petty of things?
The legal system in the country is without the usual boundaries of sanity at times, but it doens't mean that if I sue the Speaker of the House for having a funny nose, I'm going even get anything more than court hearing to immediately dismiss my case! The system is open to all, but you can't just get away with suing everybody for anything, but the American ideal is "you can have your day in court". (I think the legal system puts some people in fear more than guns do, but that's another story...)
As for all these crappy court-related television shows took over a few years ago, they are nothing like a real courthouse setting, not even for minor traffic offences. If you act like 99% of the people do in those shows, a real judge will likely double your fine or hold you in contempt of court.
Is advertising as constant and as interuptive as urban myth suggests? (Ad breaks in TV every 5 minutes, mountains of junk mail etc.)
In terms of outdoor advertising, I don't think it's any worse than the famous cities' plazas and streets in any other urban area of the world. Maybe better. For TV, it used to be every 10-15 minutes. But with the advent of annoying, animated miniature ads at the bottom corners of nearly every bit of programming, it might as well be every other minute of the show! Junk mail and phone call solicitation used to be quite bad, but if you know how to get around it (contacting the Direct Mail Authority and registering with the Do Not Call list helps).
ultrabeat
Are most Americans happy with how the country is turning out in general?
It's been in the oven for 230 years, it's still pretty good. Even if you're not a Republican.
), and in some places people DO drive anywhere, but not in NYC. In NYC everyone walks. Once I had to walk 40 blocks to school cause of crappy subway.
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